Grace in Action

Fast Track Learning with Stackable Degree Programs

Before discovering Grace School of Theology, Pol Gonzales struggled to find an accredited seminary that would meet his needs. Cost was the primary factor that left him dismayed. He shares that he had actually given up in his search as he explored the various online seminary options available in the United States.

Grace in Action

Fast Track Learning with Stackable Degree Programs

Before discovering Grace School of Theology, Pol Gonzales struggled to find an accredited seminary that would meet his needs. Cost was the primary factor that left him dismayed. He shares that he had actually given up in his search as he explored the various online seminary options available in the United States.

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All our professors have just been wonderful. There can’t be a better school of theology on this planet. I look forward to continuing in the Lord’s work of developing spiritual leaders of all nations who can teach others about the love of Christ, a love that cannot be earned and cannot be lost. I am forever grateful to Grace School of Theology for re-introducing the simple message of grace to me and strengthening my faith.

Pol actually began his Grace journey as part of its Philippine-based leadership team. He is grateful that Grace provides the benefit of free tuition to all its staff. Because of this, he has graduated alongside the Class of 2022 with a Master of Ministry (MM) degree. The stackable programs Grace offers also enabled Pol to continue pursuing further equipping by simply adding more credit hours before he can also graduate with a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (MABS).

Much like his classmates, Pol has a busy schedule outside of his studies and experienced a major ministry disruption due to the pandemic. What got him to keep enduring through his challenging circumstances were his Grace Student Discipleship Group (SDG) and the kind words of his professors. He states that they “have always been a refreshing source of strength as [he is] reminded to keep abiding in Jesus Christ our Lord who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Our professors at Grace care about [the students’] welfare beyond the classroom and then there’s a caring community in the Student Discipleship Groups who can pray and lift you up.”

Even as one of the members of the Grace staff, he admits that he started out his personal Bible study and preparation for teaching by consulting online websites. Pol learned from Dr. Mark Haywood from both his Hermeneutics and Expository Preaching classes how to never make this mistake of consulting outside sources first as “we’re trained how to study diligently and rightly dividing the word of truth and so to be never ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15). We learn to be committed to expository preaching and let God to speak through timeless principles from His Word.”

Aside from Dr. Haywood’s classes, Pol would always look forward to hearing Dr. Dave Anderson teach. Through him, he learned “how to communicate well while allowing the Spirit to teach [him] fresh and exciting things from Scripture.” Dr. Ken Wilson and Dr. Fred Chay are also notable professors who always challenged their students’ thinking in their ethics and biblical exposition classes. He also notes how Pastor Jason Peters showed him a better way to learn biblical Greek intuitively.